Engine oils of the same performance level / specifications are compatible and hence can be mixed / used for top ups.

No.The type of oil is specified based on the design of the vehicle and it is normally given in the OEM guidelines (OEM) .

Colour does not affect the performance of the oil. Different  colour dyes are added to differentiate brands. Red colour masks oil colour which otherwise looks dark and blackish due to impurities.

Start by consulting your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Find the recommended performance requirements and viscosity requirements of the engine lubricating oil for your car.

Colour does not affect the performance of the engine oil. Different components in the engine oil can make the colour of the oil different.

Requirement of oil change depends on time or distance the vehicle has run, performance level of the engine oil, quality of the fuel, OEM recommendations and operating conditions. Under the conditions in Sri Lanka, it is advisable to change the engine oil at OEM recommended mileage or in six months whatever comes first.

Oils should be bought only from reliable sources. If not, one will end up using an inferior quality product resulting in damage of the engine.

Not necessarily, because oil can turn black due to improper draining of oil while changing, poor maintenance, or quality of previously used oil and fuel, excessive carbon deposits on engine parts etc. In fact, oil will tend to blacken as it cleans the engine & various parts and accumulates dirt particles in itself.

Synthetic motor oils perform better in extremely cold climates. At the same time, synthetic motor oils are usually more expensive. Consider all these factors, and above all, consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

A bbl is a Barrel, a volumetric unit measure for crude oil and petroleum products equivalent to 42 U.S. gallons, or approximately 159 liters.

A standard is a document that provides requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose.

ACEA is an abbreviation for Association des Constructeurs Européens de l’Automobile (Association of European Automotive Manufacturers). The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), founded in 1991, represents the interests of the fifteen European car, truck and bus manufacturers at EU level. Its membership consists of the major international automobile companies, working together in an active association to ensure effective communication and negotiation with legislative, commercial, technical, consumer, environmental and other interests.The members of ACEA are competitors in the automobile market place and support free and fair competition as a trade policy and a legal concept. ACEA is an Economic Interest Grouping. Its headquarters are based in Brussels and made up of the Secretary General and the Secretariat. In 1995 and 2004, ACEA opened additional offices in Tokyo and Beijingn car, truck and bus manufacturers at EU level. Its membership consists of the major international automobile companies, working together in an active association to ensure effective communication and negotiation with legislative, commercial, technical, consumer, environmental and other interests.Technical expertise and advisory input comes from over twenty different working groups, made up of experts from the member companies.

An arbitrary scale expressing the gravity or density of liquid petroleum products. The measuring scale is calibrated in terms of degrees API . The higher the API gravity, the lighter the compound. Light crudes generally exceed 38 degrees API and heavy crudes are commonly labeled as all crudes with an API gravity of 22 degrees or below.

API is an abbreviation for American Petroleum Institute. The American Petroleum Institute, commonly referred to as API, is the largest U.S trade association for the oil and natural gas industry. This trade association of petroleum producers, refiners, marketers, and transporters, organized for the advancement of the petroleum industry by conducting research, gathering and disseminating information, and maintaining cooperation between government and the industry on all matters of mutual interest.The association’s chief functions on behalf of the industry include advocacy and negotiation with governmental, legal, and regulatory agencies; research into economic, toxicological, and environmental effects; establishment and certification of industry standards; and education outreach. API both funds and conducts research related to many aspects of the petroleum industry.

API distributes more than 200,000 copies of its publications each year. The publications, technical standards, and electronic and online products are designed, according to API itself, to help users improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of their operations, comply with legislative and regulatory requirements, and safeguard health, ensure safety, and protect the environment. Each publication is overseen by a committee of industry professionals.

In addition to training industry workers and conducting seminars, workshops, and conferences on public policy, API develops and distributes materials and curricula for schoolchildren and educators.

API defines the industry standard for the energy conservation of motor oil and also defines and drafts standards for measurement for manufactured products.

API provides vessel codes and standards for the design and fabrication of pressure vessels that help safeguard the lives of people and environments all over the world.

API conducts lobbying and organizes its member employees’ attendance at public events to communicate the industry’s position on various issues.

Knocking and pinging are generally caused by improper combustion in your engine. If the fuel-air mixture auto-ignites somewhere in the cylinder, the auto-ignition combustion wave can interact with the spark-initiated combustion wave, causing the vibration you hear as knock or ping. An increase in engine load, temperature, compression, spark-advance, air-fuel ratio and combustion chamber deposits all contribute to the tendency for an engine to knock. The use of higher octane fuel reduces this tendency. Deposits in the combustion chamber can increase you engine’s appetite for octane by increasing the compression ratio.

The cetane number is a measure of the ignition or combustion quality of the fuel in a diesel engine. The higher the RPM of the engine, the higher the required cetane number. The cetane number of a fuel is determined in an engine test procedure.

ISO is an abbreviation for International Organization for Standardization. International Organization for Standardization is the world’s largest developer of voluntary International Standards. International Standards give state of the art specifications for products, services and good practice, helping to make the industry more efficient and effective. Developed through global consensus, they help to break down barriers to international trade.
ISO was founded in 1947, and since then have published more than 19,000 International Standards covering almost all aspects of technology and business. From food safety to computers, and agriculture to healthcare, ISO International Standards impact all our lives. ISO International Standards ensure that products and services are safe, reliable and of good quality. For business, they are strategic tools that reduce costs by minimizing waste and errors and increasing productivity. They help companies to access new markets, level the playing field for developing countries and facilitate free and fair global trade.

JASO is an abbreviation for Japanese Automotive Standards Organization.
The Japanese Automotive Standards Organization is part of the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (JSAE).  JASO is an organization that sets automotive standards in Japan, analogous to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in the United States. JASO also sets standards for grades of oil; the highest grade for two-stroke spark ignition engines being JASO FD, and JASO MB for four-stroke spark ignition engines.

Kinematic viscosity of an oil is its resistance to flow at a specific temperature.

Monograde oils are designed to be used within a defined temperature range. The monograde oils are classified by the thickness (or viscosity) of the oil. The intention is to ensure that the oil will cycle as required under specific operating conditions. Monograde oils are defined by a viscosity rating at 100°C only. The viscosity rating at low temperature is not considered or specified. Limits of the viscosity values at 100°C for standard mono-grades (SAE 30, SAE 40, SAE 90, etc) are classified by the SAE International.